Review: The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amélie Wen Zhao

Nine years ago, the war between the Kingdom of Night and the Kingdom of Rivers tore Àn’yīng’s family apart, leaving her mother barely alive and a baby sister to fend for. Now the mortal realm is falling into eternal night, and mó—beautiful, ravenous demons—roam the land, feasting on the flesh of humans and drinking their souls.

Àn’yīng is no longer a helpless child, though. Armed with her crescent blades and trained in the ancient art of practitioning, she has decided to enter the Immortality Trials, which are open to any mortal who can survive the journey to the immortal realm. Those who complete the Trials are granted a pill of eternal life—the one thing Àn’yīng knows can heal her dying mother. But to attain the prize, she must survive the competition.

Death is common in the Trials. Yet oddly, Àn’yīng finds that someone is helping her stay alive. A rival contestant. Powerful and handsome, Yù’chén is as secretive about his past as he is about his motives for protecting Àn’yīng.

The longer she survives the Trials, the clearer it becomes that all is not right in the immortal realm. To save her mother and herself, Àn’yīng will need to figure out whether she can truly trust the stranger she’s falling for or if he’s the most dangerous player of all . . . for herself and for all the realms. 

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📌 Disclaimer: I received an e-arc for review from the publisher. 

This wasn't the most amazing book ever, the main characters were cliched and there was some obvious plot twists, such as the identity of Àn’yīng's jade pendant guardian. However, it was still a fun and easy read.

I loved the dark and alluring atmosphere, and the vampire like creatures called mó. I'm not a fan of trails in books as I usually find them boring, but as this read quite fast I didn't mind. I will say that I wasn't attached to the the main characters due to them being your stereotypical romantasy archetypes. Which meant I wasn't invested in their romance, despite some great moments of tension. Something that annoyed me was how the love interest, Yù’chén, kept saying Àn’yīng's name at the beginning or end of every sentence addressed to her. 

While I am somewhat curious to see how the story continues and concludes, I doubt I will be picking up the sequel. 

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Review: A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lam

A gifted art forger, Truyan Saigas has the unique ability to paint the future. But when her father is lost at sea, not even magic can heal her family, or save her two younger sisters from the dangerous consequences of her mother's gambling debts.

Then Elang, a mysterious dragon lord, offers her a deal: in exchange for a fresh start for her mother and sisters, Tru must enter a marriage contract and join him in his desolate undersea palace.

Once there, Tru will embark on her most dangerous forgery yet. To infiltrate the tyrannical Dragon King's inner circle and paint a future so treasonous, it could upend both the mortal and immortal realms...

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📌 Disclaimer: I received an e-arc for review from the publisher  
📌 Publication date: 05/06/2025

I would describe A Forgery of Fate as whimsical, which is not usually something that appeals to me. However, I thought the under water setting, with the talking turtles and sassy water demon, was fun. 

I loved the family dynamics in this, Tru's love for her sisters and her parents was heart-warming. Even better was the fact that she didn't forget about them after the love interest was introduced. She was focused on doing what she had to in order for them to have a better life, and that didn't waver throughout. Although she was sometimes reckless, doing things without thinking of the consequences, I wasn't mad about it as she was a lovable main character with an empathetic nature.

The romance between Tru and Elang was Beauty and the Beast-esque, which is a dynamic I like. While I found the plot twist regarding Elang obvious it didn't take away from my enjoyment. Nor did the fact that it was plain from the start that he liked Tru.

A Forgery of Fate is one of the better fantasy books I've read of recently, a strong standalone.

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Review: The Floating World by Axie Oh

Sunho lives in the Under World, a land of perpetual darkness. An ex-soldier, he can remember little of his life from before two years ago, when he woke up alone with only his name and his sword. Now he does odd-jobs to scrape by, until he comes across the score of a lifetime—a chest of coins for any mercenary who can h
unt down a girl who wields silver light.

Meanwhile, far to the east, Ren is a cheerful and spirited acrobat traveling with her adoptive family and performing at villages. But everything changes during one of their festival performances when the village is attacked by a horrific humanlike demon. In a moment of fear and rage, Ren releases a blast of silver light—a power she has kept hidden since childhood—and kills the monster. But her efforts are not in time to prevent her adoptive family from suffering a devastating loss, or to save her beloved uncle from being grievously wounded.

Determined to save him from succumbing to the poisoned wound, Ren sets off over the mountains, where the creature came from—and from where Ren herself fled ten years ago. Her path sets her on a collision course with Sunho, but he doesn't realize she's the girl that he—and a hundred other swords-for-hire—is looking for. As the two grow closer through their travels, they come to realize that their pasts—and destinies—are far more entwined than either of them could have imagined...

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📌 Disclaimer: I received an e-arc for review from the publisher  
📌 Publication date: 13/05/2025

This is my first book by Axie Oh but it certainly won't be my last. At just under 360 pages, I flew through it. The Floating World is a re-imagining of the Korean legend of Celestial Maidens. 

It's told through the POV of Ren, Sunho, and Jaeil. Sunho and Ren are great main characters and I liked their sweet and wholesome romance. Sungo is a lost ex-soldier who is stoic and emotionally closed off, while Ren is a bubbly and cheerful acrobatic. Although they have opposite personalities they find common ground. I enjoyed their journey together and seeing their relationship develop. 

The world building was well done, with no info dumping. It was unique and different from books I've read before. The plot twists were great and kept me hooked. This was such a fun read, I honestly cannot wait for the sequel. 

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Review: This Monster of Mine by Shalini Abeysekara

She knows the taste of death. He'll stoke her hunger for it.

Eighteen-year-old Sarai doesn't know why someone tried to kill her four years ago, but she does know that her case was closed without justice. Hellbent on vengeance, she returns to the scene of the crime as a Petitor, a prosecutor who can magically detect lies, and is assigned to work with Tetrarch Kadra. Ice-cold and perennially sadistic, Kadra is the most vicious of the four judges who rule the land - and the prime suspect in a string of deaths identical to Sarai's attempted murder.

Certain of his guilt, Sarai begins a double life: solving cases with Kadra by day and plotting his ruin by night. But Kadra is charming and there's something alluring about the wrath he wields against the city's corruption. So when the evidence she finds embroils her in a deadly political battle, Sarai must also fight against her attraction to Kadra - because despite his growing hold on her heart, his voice matches the only memory she has of her assailant...

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📌 Disclaimer: I received an e-arc for review from the publisher  
📌 Publication date: 03/04/2025 

This Monster of Mine is very dark, I'd suggest reading the trigger warnings before going into it. To me, the opening was disturbing and set the tone for the rest of the story. I didn't know how brutal it was going to be before picking it up. However, while it didn't work for me due to the dark tone and violence I can see it appealing to people who are after this type of romantasy. 

It's hard to create a standalone fantasy book that doesn't feel rushed. However, Abeysekara delivers both great world building and character development. The main character, Sarai, is quiet but fiery. Someone not to be underestimated and very easy to root for. The romance is a slow burn, it truly deliveries on enemies to lovers. Plus, the love interest is all about consent! 

If you want a dark romantasy that is is equal parts romance and plot then look no further. While This Monster of Mine wasn't my cup of tea, I would still recommend it as I have no complaints about the world building or romance. 

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Review: The Dark Mirror by Samantha Shannon

Paige Mahoney is outside the Republic of Scion for the first time in more than a decade – but she has no idea how she got to the free world. Half a year has been wiped from her memory.

As she makes her way back to the revolution, her journey takes her to Venice, where she learns a dangerous secret – one that could change the face of the war between humans and immortals. Before she can return to London, she must help the Domino Programme unravel the sinister Operation Ventriloquist.

And it soon becomes clear that the one person who could recover her memories – Arcturus Mesarthim – might also hold the key to saving Italy.

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📌 Disclaimer: I received an e-arc for review from the publisher  
📌 Publication date: 25/02/2025

The Bone Season series is one of my favourite on-going series'. I'm so grateful to have read this advanced readers copy after 4 years of waiting for the fifth installment. Unsurprisingly, I have given it five stars, my second of the year!

I can't say too much without giving away spoilers, so I will keep this review short. In The Dark Mirror Paige visits non-Scion controlled countries for the first time, with Italy being the main setting. From her time there you get a real sense of just how much control Scion has over the countries it rules, as Paige experiences mundane things for the first time such as drinking a latte or wearing jeans. I don't really read urban fantasy, but the fantasy elements in this series combined with the dystopian elements blend together nicely to create an unique and fascinating world. Shannon paints a vivid and beautiful vision of the countries Paige visits, so much so that you feel as if you're really there. 

I would say that this is the most romantic book in the series so far. Warden and Paige have a complex relationship, and while usually at this point, five books into the series, I would loose interest that most definitely isn't the case here. 

Paige is as resilient as ever, and the cast of secondary characters from Nick and Maria to Maria's girlfriend, Verča, make a wonderful team. I also like that we see more of the Ranthen, and get to know their personalities better. I hope their presence continues to grow in the next book. 

With high stakes and a cleverly woven plot, The Dark Mirror, made me feel a roller coaster of emotions.  I can't believe we're nearing the end of the series with only two more books to go, hopefully the wait for the next installment isn't too long! 

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Review: Emberclaw by L.R. Lam

Arcady faces their greatest heist yet: posing as a noble student at the arcane University of Vatra. When the University announces the reinstatement of archaic trials of magic, the ever-penniless Arcady seizes the chance. If they win, they not only prove their worth, but the scholarship will give them more time to unlock secrets and reveal, once and for all, that their grandsire was not the Plaguebringer. Yet grief still leaves Arcady broken, and when they close their eyes, they dream of a certain dragon.

Everen, once the hope of dragons, is now hated by his kind. When he is eventually released from his prison, the Queen is clear: while he may help protect the island from wraith attacks, he is no longer a prince of the realm. As he struggles to find his place in Vere Celene, visions of the past, the future, and tantalizing glimpses of Arcady still haunt him. If he steers the wrong path through fate’s storm, he may never be able to create a future where both humans and dragons live in harmony.

Arcady soon realizes that to survive the rising threats from both their old life and their new one, they must use every trick at their disposal—even magic stolen from a dragon they thought dead. And as time runs out before an ancient danger awakens, Everen must fight his way back to Arcady, earn their forgiveness, and learn what it truly means to be an Emberclaw.

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📌 Disclaimer: I received an e-arc for review from the publisher  
📌 Publication date: 06/03/2025 

I was so excited when I got approved to read an advanced readers copy of Emberclaw, one of my most anticipated sequels of 2025. 

Arcady is now a student at the University of Vatra, trying to secretly uncover the truth about the events that lead to the death of the Plaguebringer (aka her grandsire). I loved the magical school setting and although it sounds cliche it very much gave Harry Potter vibes. The classroom setting, studying in the library, and eating in the great hall...I could imagine it as a movie. As her studies begin there is an announcement that the Trials, a magical competition that has not been conducted for many years, is being re-introduced. Arcady of course enters the Trials as the prize is a full scholarship for the winner, and a partial scholarship for the two runners up. I'm not usually a fan of trials as I find them boring, however, the trials Lam created were both entertaining and interesting. 

There is no second book syndrome here. As was the case with the first book, Emberclaw, had a very gripping plot with no dull moments. The short chapters made it go by so fast, I was unwilling to put my Kindle down, but alas life. I enjoyed the reveals and how all the plot points and character arcs converged. I also liked the students Arcady initially befriended for their connections, but later became true friends with. Plus, we get to know more about Sorin, who at the behest of Magnus, goes undercover as a student to keep an eye on Arcady. Her relationship with her wyvern was cute!

I can't write a review of this and not comment on the romance, one of my favourite aspects of this duology. It was just as compelling as it was in Dragonfall. Lam really knows how to write tension! The communication and build up trust was well executed. Both Arcady and Everen are layered characters that grow and develop individually and together. 

According to my advanced readers copy of the first book, Dragonfall, this was originally going to be a trilogy. I'm not sure what happened that made it so it's now a duology, but I think it's a shame. The ending was satisfying and even though there was a bit of telling rather than showing (due to having to condense it down to a duology, I think) this was a good follow up. However,  I feel like it could have been so much better if we had gotten another book to continue with the threads that the author left open. There was more to explore in terms of the world, and the secondary characters who I was just beginning to warm to, could have had a chance to become more fleshed out. I can't further discuss what I wanted more of as it would spoil the ending, but suffice to say it begs to be further explored. 

This is such an underrated gem of a duology, I can't recommend it enough to anyone who enjoys fantasy books with dragons. 

Rating:

                                                         

Review: Now Comes the Mist by Julie C. Dao

Lucy Westenra is beautiful, rich, loved by three men—every inch a lady. But beneath this sparkling, flirtatious facade, she is fascinated by death, which has stalked her throughout her short life. For her, the dead do not slip away easily, as they do for her best friend, Mina; they linger.

When Lucy departs for Whitby, her nightly sleepwalks introduce her to the mysterious Vlad, who seems to see parts of her she has never let show before. Vlad makes her an Every century, he seeks out the “perfect woman of the age,” who embodies all the values of her society, to live with him in immortality—and Lucy could very well be this woman. For the first time, she feels herself able to share her darker side with someone. Thinking herself dreaming, she agrees to cheat death with him.

When Vlad finally appears in the light, it is aboard a ship covered in corpses. He toys with Lucy and mocks her in Mina’s presence. And one night, he drains a corpse dry right before her eyes. He is a vampire, a monster ready to take her. He expects a good Victorian lady, appalled by his darkness, a victim. But Lucy is only enraptured. When Vlad reacts with violence, Lucy has no choice but to fight for her agency, even if it means giving up her humanity. And her tormentor will soon find she is no easy opponent...

The first book of a duology that retells Dracula from the point of view of Lucy Westenra, this gothic romance is perfect for fans of Penny Dreadful and Danielle L. Jensen.

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📌 Disclaimer: I received an e-arc for review from the publisher  
📌 Publication date: 01/10/2024

I have been in the biggest reading slump of my life and this is exactly what I needed to get me out of it. Now Comes the Mist is a Dracula re-telling told from the point of view of Lucy. I listened to Dracula on audiobook in 2019 and really enjoyed the experience. This is a re-telling that is just as gothic and atmospheric. 

My only complaint is regarding Lucy. While for the most part I liked and felt for her, she was also quite frustrating. Specifically when it came to decision making. She acted without thinking things through, and didn't deal well with the consequences. 

I will say that if action is what you're after there's not much here. What you'll find instead is ball gowns, flirting (a love square), and a very creepy and manipulative vampire. We don't spend enough time with any of the love interests to really be able to root for them. However, I will say that I did like them all and they each had a distinct personality. On the subject of relationships, the friendship between Lucy and Mina was heart-warming. 

Overall, Now Comes the Mist was a fast paced read. If you want a Dracula re-telling with a POC cast and a bold Lucy that takes agency of her life, look no further. 

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